Pressing machine and element



' y 193T G. w. JOHNSON ,291.

PRESSING MACHINE AND ELEMENT Filed Jan. .l, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEORGE W. JOHNSON M25 Wifi Patented May 4, 1937 *UNITEDJ sTATEs PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE AND ELEMENT George w. Johnson, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 11, 1935, Serial No.1.300

22 Claims. (CI. 38-25) This invention relates to a pressing machine and more particularly to the type used in laundry and garment work.

My present invention provides a pressing ma- 5 chine having a pair of cooperating pressing members, one of said members having a fixed portion which is useful for certain pressing operations and a movable portion which may or may not be used for any given pressing operation. I therefore 10 provide this movable portion of one of the pressing members with means, preferably power operated, for moving the same toward and from the coacting pressing member when desired. v

Another feature of my invention is the provil5 sion of means for moving the pressing members into coacting relation and means for thereafter moving the above described movable' portion of 30 tion of one of the pressing members is moved into ironing engagement. Y Y My invention also comprises suitable control manuals for presses of the type described including safety two-hand manuals for actuating the 35 press closing power means and a third manual for moving the before mentioned device into operative position to complete the automatic chain by which the press closing means actuates the bed moving means. r My invention also comprises certain novel constructions for pressing elements, including a pressing member having a fixed portion and a portion adjacent thereto movable into pressing position by a flexible and distensible fluid-tight 45 cover member. 7

Another form of my device includes a pressing member having a fixed pressing portion and a side presing portion hinged thereto. together with power means for moving the side por- 50 tion about its hinge into pressing position.

Further features of my invention comprise novel combinations of spring padding with the pressing elements above described and novel arrangements oi the cover cloth for this type of 55 pressingmembersotbatthesamemaybeheld taut in various positions of the movable portion of the pressing member.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a pressing machine embodying my invention with the pressing members in open position and with the control mechanism shown in diagrammatic form; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the pressing members of Fig. 1, showing the members in closed position for a pressing operation on the fixed portion of the bed only; Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the entire bed in pressing engagement withthe coacting head; Fig. 4 is a modified form of bed construction; while Fig. 5 shows still another modification.

In the machine illustrated, on an upstanding bracket of frame I0 is pivotally mounted a head lever ll carrying a pressing head l2 which may be heated in any well known manner. For operating the head lever to move the head from open to closed position I have provided toggle links [3 and I4 pivotally connected together at l5 and having the upper end of one link pivotally connected to the head lever at l6 and the lower end of the other link pivotally connected to the frame at I1. I have shown power means for moving the links to straightened position com-' prising a motor l8 having a cylinder IS in which reciprocates a piston 20 whose piston rod 2| is connected to the toggle knuckle. The motor is suitably mounted on a trunnion 22. A spring 23 connected between toggle link II and the frame biases the toggles toward broken position. The'supply of motive fluid for operating motor I8 isv by way of a combined flow and exhaust conduit 24 communicating between the cylinder l9 and valve casing 25, which in turn communicates by conduits 2B and 21 with valve casing 28. This latter casing in turn communicates by conduit 29 with a source of motive fluid 30. Valve casings 25 and 28 each contain a normally closed inlet valve 25, 28:; and a normally open exhaust' valve 25b, 28b mounted on. common stems 25c, 28a for actuation by manuals 25d, 28d, respectively. It will .thus be seen that actuation of both manuals 25d and 22d is necessary to supply fluid to motor II and upon completion'of a power stroke of the latter the piston uncovers a port 3| in the cylinder wall which admits fluid from themotor to conduit 32 which communicates with holding means 33 and I4, each of which comprises a piston 33a, 34a which,

by means of a rod 33b, 34b engages an am "e. lie on the respective manuals for holding the same in operated position.

One of the pressing-members. in the present the present'instance is the central portion of the pressingmember but need not necessarily be so I prise a flexible and distensible and substantially fluid-tight connections .rigid with the base member 38 and side valve b arranged. The bed member also has other portions which may or may not be used for a given pressing operation. Inthe form shown in Figs.

1 to 3 and in Fig. 5, these movable portions comfiuid-tight cover member 36 which is secured by otherisuitable base member so as to provide a means for raising, and lowering the side portions of the bed member depending upon whether the latter are to be used in a given pressing operation or not.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modified form of pressing bed which has a fixed portion 31 which is portions 39 are connected by hinge pins 40 to the fixed pressing portion. Power means is provided for moving the side portions about their hinge pins into. and out of pressing engagement with the head. In the form shown, each movable portion is provided'with a cylinder and piston motor 4| having a piston rod 42 operatively connected as at 43with the movable bed portion 39 to swing the latter about its hinge;

Whichever form of bed be used, the supply of motive fluid for actuating the same is by way of a combined flow and exhaust conduit 44 in which is a valve casing 45 housing a normally closed inlet valve 45a anda normally open exhaust on a common. valve stem d5c. Conduit 44 communicates beyond casing 45 with a supply of motive fluid which may be the source 30 or other suitable supply.

Means under the controloi the operator is provided for determining when the press is closed whether the fixed portion only of the bed shall be used for a pressing operatacjii or the entire bed/ when the toggles are moved to straightened p0si opposite the valve stem I cates with valve her 41 so longtion as shown in the dot-dash lines of Fig. 1, lies which when operated completes the train of mechanism between lug 46 and valve stem 45c whereby the latter may be operated. This device comprises an abutment member 41 which is movable by means of a servo motor 48 into position between lug 46 and valve stem 450. The member 41 is normally maintained in inoperative position by a spring 49. The servo motor is suitably constructed to move the member" into its operated position and to hold it there while the 1ug'46 is acting through 41 to operate valve stem 450. The member 41 .has a small projection 50 adapted to when in operated position so as to prevent retrograde movement of the memas the links remain intheir straightened position. Motive fluid is supplied to servo motor 48 by conduit 5| which communicasing 52 in which-is an open leak port 53 whereby the servo motor is normally exhausted. Casing 52 houses a normally closed inlet valve 520 on a stem 520 for actuation by to the fixed portion 35 or mounted for simultaneous actuation cover members 36 into 450. A device is provided are actuated. Manual vates the valves in casing 25 as previously de- 520 is adapted to overlie a collar 55 on stem 25c so that actuation of manual 25d operates valves 25a and 25b only, but actuation of manual 52d operates the two valves just. mentioned and the additional valve 52a. Y

In Figs. 1 to 3, I have shown spring padding 56 extending across both the fixed and movable portions of the bed which provides a continuous pressing surface over all portions thereof. Over the spring padding-is other web material 51 which isa cover cloth orthe like and which is held'ta'ut by springs 58 held in tension between the edges of the cover cloth and a fixed portion of the frame. It results from this construction that the cover cloth is held taut in all positions 01' the distensible cover members 36, thus avoiding wrinkles in the cover cloth. The spring padding between the cover member 36 andthe heated head or chest member I? provides an insulating layer between'these two so that the cover member is somewhat protected from the heat of the chest. This is very valuable as the cover member is usually of rubber or of impregnated fabric in which the impregnating material is such as to be deteriorated by heat.

The spring padding and cover cloth in'Figi 4 are in all respects analogous 'to those just described as both of them extend over the entire surface of the bed and the cloth is held taut as before.

In Fig. 5, the fixed portion 350-01 the bed is provided with spring padding 59 and the side pressin portions are movable upon distension oi the pressing position so that they form substantially a continuation of the pressing surface of the spring padding 59. In Fig; 5 brackets 60 are provided for cover members in their deflated positions.

For a pressing operation between the fixed porhead with the parts in-the position of Fig. 1, the operator arranges the lay of the work upon the bed and actuates manuals 25d and 28d. Motive fluid flows through conduits 30 and 23, valve casing 28, conduits 21 and 26, valve casing 25 and conduit 24 to cylinder l9, thus causing a power stroke of piston 20 which moves the toggle links to their straightened position as shown in dotdash lines in Fig. 1, which causes ironing engagement between .the head and the central portion of the bed. Upon completion of the power stroke of piston 20, fluid travels through port 3| and supporting the ,tion of the bed and. the coacting portion of the conduit 32 to the holding means 33 and 34 which maintains the valves in their operated positions. To open the press, the operator moves one or both of manuals 25d and 28d against the action of the holding means which opens an exhaust port for motor l8, whereupon spring 23 becomes eflective to open the press.

For an ironing operation requiringthe entire surface of the bed, the operation isthe same as the above except that manuals 52d and 23d 52d through arm 54 actuscribed to cause operation of motor l8. At the same time, through conduit 21, valve casing 52 and conduit 5|, motor 48 which makes a power stroke placing the abutment member 41 in position adjacent valve stem 450 where it is engaged by lug 46 as motivefluid is admitted to s'ervo the toggle links straighten. This operates the i valves in casing 45 to admit motive fluid through conduit 44 to the movable portions 01' the bed,

whether these be the inflatable cover members 30 76 or the fluid actuated motors 4|. In either case, these movable portions are pressed into ironing engagement withthe coacting portions oi the head. The press is opened as before by movethe latter was held by the holding means 34. @Servo motor 48 was immediately exhaustedthrough the leak port53 but the member 41 was held in operative position by the projection 50. When the press is opened, as the toggles move out of straightened position, the member 41 drops and the valves in casing 45 return to the posi-.

tion oi Fig. 1 which cuts off the supply of motive fiuid to the operating means for the movable portions of the bed.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, the first of which has a fixed portion and a movable portion, continuous cover means extending over both of said portions, the second of said members being adapted to coast with both of said portions and being movable into contact with said fixed portion and into-spaced relationship to the movable portion of said first member, means for so positioning said second member, and power means for moving the movable portion of said first member into pressure engagement with the coacting portion of the second member.

2. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members,' the first of which has a fixed portion and a movable portion, continuous cover means extending over both of said portions, the second of said members being adapted to coact with both of said portions and being movable into contact with said fixed portion and into spaced relationship to the movable portion of said first'member, means for so positioning said'second member, and fluid actuated power means for moving the movable por-- to enact withboth of said'portions and having a portion movable to contact said'fixed portion of the first member and having another portion movable to a position adjacent the movable portion of said first membenmeans for so positioning said second member, means for moving the movable portion of said first member into pressure engagement with the coacting portion oi the second member, and means controlled by the operator for enabling said first-named means to cause actuation of said second-named means.

4. In a pressing machine, 'a' pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, the first of which has a fixed portion and a movable portion, the second of said members being adapted to mom; with both of said portions and being movable into contact with said fixed portion and into'spaced relationship to the movable portion of said first member, means for so positioning 7 said second member, means for moving the movtion oi. said first member, a manual having a controlling effect on said first named means only, and a second manual having a controlling effect on both of said means, whereby to cause pressing action between'said second member and both portions 01' said first member.

5. In a pressing machine, a pair or coacting relatively movable'pressing members, the first of which has a fixed portion and a portion comprising a flexible distensible substantially fluidtight cover member for moving the pressing lace thereof, the second of said pressing members being adapted to enact with both portions of said first member and being movable into contact with said fixed portion and into spaced relationship to said distensible portion of said first member, means-for so positioning said second member, and fluid means for distending said covermember.

6. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, the first of said members having a fixed portion and a movable portion, a motor for moving said movable portion, control means for said motor, the second of said members being movable into contact with said fixed portion and into spaced relationship to the movable portion of said first member, means for so positioning said second member, and said last-named means having an operative connection for actuating said motor control means.

7. In a. pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, the first of said members having a fixed portion and a ,portion hinged thereto, a motor for moving said hinged portion, the second of said members being movable into contact with said fixed portion and into spaced relationship to said hinged portion, means for so positioning said second member, and means for actuating said motor to move said hinged portion into engagement with the coacting portion of said second member.

8. A pressing element comprising a fixed portion, a portion having an edge hingedly connected with said fixed portion, and motor means for moving said hinged portion about its hinged connection. 1

' 9. A pressing element comprising a fixed portion, spring padding thereon, a portion comprising a flexible distensible substantially fiuidtight cover member, and fluid'means for distending said cover member to move the portion of the pressing surface overlying. said cover member into position to form substantially a continuation of said spring padding.

10. A pressing element comprising a fixed portion, spring padding thereon, and a portion comprising a flexible distensibie substantially fluidtight cover member.

11. A pressing element comprising a fixed portion, a portion comprising a flexible distensible substantially fluid-tight cover member, fiuid' means for distending said cover member, and spring padding overlying both of said portions.

12. A pressing'element comprising a fixed portion, a portion comprising a fiexible distensible substantially fluid-tight cover member, fluid means for distending said cover member, spring CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,079,291. v May 4, 1937.

GEORGE W. 'JOHNSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring 'correction as follows: Page 5, first and second columns, lines 74-75 and 1, claim 4, strike out the words and comma "whereby to cause pressing action between said second member and the fixed portion of said first member, and insert the same after "only, in second column, line 3, same claim; page 3, second column, line 1, claim 4; before "a manual" insert the words control means for both of said means including; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. 7 Y

Signed and sealed this 13th day of July, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) v Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

